A Farmington man made up quite a tale and went to extreme measures in an attempt to avoid a drunken driving arrest on Saturday morning, police said.
Daniel Vagnini, 22, punched himself in the face, ripped his shirt and threw his car keys into the Farmington River before calling police and saying he has been assaulted, blacked out and regained consciousness in the woods,
However, a police officer had seen the Farmington man speed through a stop sign and just miss another car. Police found Vagnini’s car on Indian Hill Road and began searching the woods for the driver just before Vagnini himself called 911 and said he was lost in the woods near the Farmington River.
The department’s K9 unit led police to Vagnini, who initially made the bogus claims, police said, But, eventually, he admitted to punching himself in the face, ripping his own shirt and throwing his wallet and keys into the river, Farmington police said.
Vagnini was charged with reckless driving, evading responsibility and driving under the influence. His will appear in court on June 15.
